Assistant Coach Sarah Williams, new Varsity Coach Jerry Dover, and new Junior Varsity Coach David Norton

 

Basketball Coaches Dover and Norton Join Turkey Athletics

It’s a new era of Turkey basketball! Two seasoned basketball coaches recently joined St. Mary’s Episcopal School’s athletic department. Jerry Dover is the new varsity basketball coach. David Norton will lead the junior varsity team. Sarah Williams will continue to support the program as an assistant coach.

“Coach Dover brings a new and exciting style of basketball to our team. This is a great day and a great fit for SMS Basketball. During the last two weeks, I have spoken with numerous individuals across Memphis, and they were unanimous in their support of and respect for Jerry. From his ability in terms of X’s and O’s to his skill at building relationships and developing players, his reputation is outstanding. The addition of Coach Norton and the return of Coach Williams are both critical to the program’s success, and we are hopeful that we can compete at the highest level,” said John Bartholomew, St. Mary’s Director of Athletics.

Coach Jerry Dover, Varsity

Jerry Dover Jr. was born and raised in Memphis, graduated from Germantown High School, and chose to attend Southwest Tennessee Community College to play under the legendary Head Coach Verties Sails. While playing under Coach Sails, Dover tied a Southwest single-season record with nine steals in a single game, completed the requirements to make the Dean’s list, and received his associate’s degree in general studies. Dover then went to play basketball at Lane College under Coach J. L. Perry. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and graduated cum laude while leading the team to a final four berth in their conference. Dover also earned a master's degree from Cambridge College in special education. 

Coach Dover has been successful at all levels of basketball, from middle school to college. Most recently, he coached at Harding Academy as the assistant coach from 2020-2021, with other stops at Melrose High School as the head coach from 2019-2020, and Memphis University School from 2014-2019, where he served as the head junior varsity coach from 2017-2019. He was the assistant women's basketball coach at LeMoyne Owen College from 2009-2013 and led Whitestation Middle School to a city championship in 2013 and a state title in 2014. 

Coach Dover has also received an AAU Presidential Leadership award. He served as the head coach in the 14 & under girls Woodz Elite AAU program in the summer of 2019 and led them to championship status in the Atlanta Splash gold division. He coached the Memphis Wildcats 13 & under AAU team in 2014 (7th in the nation) and coached Team Penny in 2015, while also serving on the Southeastern AAU board of managers and the National AAU girls committee. 

Coach David Norton, Junior Varsity

Coach David Norton previously coached basketball and women's field hockey at Rhodes College. He led the 2001 field hockey team to the school's first-ever conference championship in that sport. His 2003 team finished runner-up in their conference, and in 2004, his team secured Rhodes' second conference championship and highest regional ranking (#2) in school history.  He was awarded the Southern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2004-05. His basketball and field hockey teams included numerous All-Conference and All-Academic Conference performers, and he coached three All-Americans during his tenure.  

As a player, Norton was a part of some of the best teams in Rhodes' Basketball history. His teams were ranked nationally in the Top 25 all four years. His senior year, he captained a team that led the nation in field goal percentage defense, garnering MVP honors. Norton is also a former record holder in 3-point field goals made in a single game (8-11 v. Fisk University in Dec. 1996). He is passionate about the game and enjoys teaching the fundamentals of defense and shooting.

Norton is involved with Memphis Athletic Ministries and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Currently, David is the Director of Permanent Placement with Robert Half, a Fortune 500 specialized recruiting firm for accounting and finance professionals. David and his wife Tracy are the parents of Hudson, Carter, and Campbell ’26.

Coach Sarah Williams, Assistant    

Assistant Coach Sarah Williams grew up in Coral Springs, Florida, where she played high school basketball at Stoneman Douglas High School, earning multiple all-county and all-state honors. She played Division 1 basketball at Cornell University, serving as team captain both her junior and senior seasons, and ultimately graduating with a degree in communication. She moved to Memphis in 2010 and has worked at various summer basketball clinics and as an assistant coach for the girl’s basketball team at Grace St. Luke’s. Sarah joined the SMS coaching staff in 2018 and is the mother of Harper ’32.